Developing biomimetic collagen-based matrix using cyclodextrin for corneal repair

The worldwide demand for corneal transplantations cannot match by the supply of donor corneas, especially in most developing countries. There is a large need of developing new corneal substitute mimicking the native cornea in terms of optical, biomechanical and biological properties. The cornea has four main types of proteoglycan that play a critical role in collagen fibrogenesis and transparency. However, obtaining purified proteoglycans has been a challenging task due to their high cost. In this study, we employed cyclodextrins as a proteoglycan substitute to engineer a biomimetic collagen-based matrix. The incorporation of cyclodextrin in collagen membrane increased collagen thermal stability and reduced collagen fibrogenesis. As a result, a thick, transparent and mechanically strong collagen-based membrane was formed. This cyclodextrin-collagen membrane holds a great potential to be used as a therapeutic eye patch for corneal repair.